Just fitted a 1300W IR heater in the garage, works far better than the oil heater I used to use...
James
[Edited on 31/12/08 by cloudy]
A client was kind enough to lend me a space heater, and I did try it, but unfortunately it was defeated by my 1500 sq ft, high roofed, single skin
workshop and the recent chilly stuff.
I considered setting up some kind of internal tent of fabric or even wood, to try to find a way of keeping some heat in, but the outlay was more than
I wanted to invest at the moment.
I have experimented with extra layers of clothing, but although insulation slows down the heat loss it doesn't actually stop it. And especially
with the type of work that I am doing there's little chance to build up some body heat.
Anyway, then I remembered the heat pads. We've got two of them, this is the most recent version
Can't get the link to work, it's called the Dreamland Therapeutic Heat Pad and you can find it on http://argos.co.uk in the Healt and
Personal Care section, massage and relaxation sub section
So, I took them down to the workshop, put one between my layers of clothing over my chest, and the other at my back, set them both on high, and
plugged in. The result was gratifying, and kept my body nice and warm. Bit of a nuisance having the cable trailing, but with a bit of practice I was
able to cope with that.
My hands are still too cold to go without gloves, but I found that slipping the gloves off to do delicate work and then replacing them seemed OK,
although I think I will look for some fingerless gloves when I get the chance.
Anyway, worth your consideration if you have a similar problem, as the pads cost less that £16 each, and they only draw about 25 watts each.
John
[Edited on 31/12/08 by mr henderson]
[Edited on 31/12/08 by mr henderson]
Pleaseeee pictures!!!!
Just fitted a 1300W IR heater in the garage, works far better than the oil heater I used to use...
James
[Edited on 31/12/08 by cloudy]
space heater works fine for us 1500 sq/ft unit blast it for about half hour takes the cold out of the air, then just half power for 5 or so minutes
every 40-60 mins keeps that cold at bay, and also helps to wear a couple of layers and a hat, temperature was around the -5deg mark today
bbbrrrrrrrr
oh yeah and the other day i saw something along the lines of a heated blanket type jacket, cant for the life of me remember where
chris
maplin do heated jackets, gloves, hats etc ....
except they use batteries and eat them. may be worth while with rechargeables - but you'll need to budget a set an hour!
quote:
Originally posted by chris_smith
space heater works fine for us 1500 sq/ft unit blast it for about half hour takes the cold out of the air, then just half power for 5 or so minutes every 40-60 mins keeps that cold at bay,
maplin that was it oh yeah the day they sold me a second hand web book for my daughter which was advertised as brand new had allsorts of pdf docs and
appointments saved in the diary
needless to say it went back
Look for motorcycle clothing, electrically heated. It maybe possible to use this in the workshop? depends what you're doing. I have one lead to a
jackplug on the bike, essentially I'm sitting in one spot (hopefully), so not a problem.
It works though, lovely and warm.
A couple of patio heaters around where your working??
Grow a beard, work harder. Problem solved!
fitting kitchens, i often find myself outside in subzero temperatures doing things (cutting worktops or chiseling extractor holes for example!). I
find that with a big coat on over enough layers, and the crucial hat over the ears, i keep well warm enough. In fact, i often have to unzip the jacket
to avoid sweating!
Its a loosing battle trying to heat a large area like a workshop that is undoubtedly draughty as could be, and costly too id imagine. On a similar
theme to the other thread, its probably worth while sorting the draughts but insulation would cost a fortune.
I wouldnt bother with heated ungergarments myself. Your body produces plenty of heat when its working hard, its just a matter of trapping it.
I find having sleeves that pull over your hands is better than gloves, because its warm as soon as you pull your hands in rather than gloves which
start cold and wont get warm at all if you are only having them on for a few minutes.
My main weapon is a feather-filled Helly Hanson chav jacket
I find if I point my space heater straight at me when I am doing anything it keeps me nice and warm inside or out. I wear long Johns and a vest and
two or three shirts and a jumper then boiler suit and I am warm enough. I'm reluctant to remove any of my layers after though
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
I wouldnt bother with heated ungergarments myself. Your body produces plenty of heat when its working hard, its just a matter of trapping it.
I like it!
I use a little IR heater which goes as close to me as possible. within an hour the garage is perfectly warm enough with jumper on.
Its tough when your just sat there though.
Have you tried a peice of old carpet for standing on - it stops the cold striking through your boots, which is standing for long is a bugger if your
not moving around. Rubber padding is just as good if your floor gets damp, but hard to get for free.
I use horse stable mats. They are huge, thick and grippy, plus they have gulleys on the back to channel the damp out.
its great when you find something that beats a problem for cheap!
[Edited on 31/12/08 by Dangle_kt]
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
I wouldnt bother with heated ungergarments myself. Your body produces plenty of heat when its working hard, its just a matter of trapping it.
Ah, well, if I was working hard it woudn't be so much of a problem, but wiring a car, although mentally quite tough, is physically pretty easy. Maybe if I was to stop and do something physical for a while I could warm up naturally.
On the other hand, wearing the heated pads means I don't have to stop, or pay out for propane etc.
I daresay it wouldn't work for everybody, but it certainly works for me
John
I use a thermal boiler suit over my normal clothes and a hat if it's realy cold.
Sometimes I do a few star jumps to get the heat going when I first enter the garage.
I have 1000sq ft about 20 ft to roof, just replaced my old waste oil heater with a new one, what a difference, we had it up to 28 degrees the other day just to try it out, lovely
He, He... Try working in minus 15 like today. Long underwear, thick construction gloves and a toque are necessary. Heaters don't really work in an uninsulated garage. You never get used to it really and end up dragging parts all through the house to do little jobs in the warm!
Spend a little time and money insulating the place, plaster board works well and tidies the place up. Also makes the place cooler in summer.
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Spend a little time and money insulating the place, plaster board works well and tidies the place up. Also makes the place cooler in summer.
I too have been working on the garage today and yesterday.
I lost track of time yesterday, just going out the garage to have lunch (at 2.45) and to pack at at 6. It never even got warm outside as it was still
frozen.
Today was warmer outside, but didnt notice it in the garage, felt like it was getting colder.
I put builders gloves on yesterday as am working with sheet still so dont fancy freezing my hands to that. The gloves were cold from istting in the
garage, so today, made sure they had spent the night on the radiator so were warm when i put them on to do into the garage.
I jst wear, jeans, t-shirt, jumper, two pairs of socks, normal safety boots and hat over ears.
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
Cold feet on concrete is one problem, be good if you could get heated boots!
Before I put a forced air furnace in the garage I used 4 500 halogen spotlights in the area I would be working and they generated enough heat to make
the difference. Now I have either 60,000 or 80,000 btu natural gas furnace and it takes about 10 minutes to get it warm.
Dale
i was cold whilst at work on tuesday....
so i started a bonfire
10mins collecting wood
litre of kerosene
SORTED
this works a treat outside..... not so good in a garage.
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
I wouldnt bother with heated ungergarments myself. Your body produces plenty of heat when its working hard, its just a matter of trapping it.
Ah, well, if I was working hard it woudn't be so much of a problem, but wiring a car, although mentally quite tough, is physically pretty easy. Maybe if I was to stop and do something physical for a while I could warm up naturally.
On the other hand, wearing the heated pads means I don't have to stop, or pay out for propane etc.
I daresay it wouldn't work for everybody, but it certainly works for me
John
On a similar theme to the heat pad Lidl's were selling a similar heat pad which looks like half a jacket straps around your neck n middle, £12. The trailing cable might be a pain but no worse than using power tools I suppose. My garage has three layers of scrap carpet and yep it helps a lot with the temp and is very comfy to crawl around on!
quote:
Originally posted by stevebubs
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
I wouldnt bother with heated ungergarments myself. Your body produces plenty of heat when its working hard, its just a matter of trapping it.
Ah, well, if I was working hard it woudn't be so much of a problem, but wiring a car, although mentally quite tough, is physically pretty easy. Maybe if I was to stop and do something physical for a while I could warm up naturally.
On the other hand, wearing the heated pads means I don't have to stop, or pay out for propane etc.
I daresay it wouldn't work for everybody, but it certainly works for me
John
If you're stationary then something like an IR heater may work best; put a couple in a corner of the workshop and do your wiring there....
3 ways to transmit heat - convection, conduction, radiation.
Convection sounds like it goes straight out the roof so not suitable
Conduction - heated clothing...restricting...
Which just leaves radiation....
Bugger...just noticed it's 5am....
quote:
Originally posted by mr henderson
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Spend a little time and money insulating the place, plaster board works well and tidies the place up. Also makes the place cooler in summer.
Who is that suggestion aimed at? I hope it's not me, my workshop is 60 x 25 and an average of 12' high. How many sheets and how much battening would that be?
Plus it's rented
John
Whilst climbing around on my garage taking off the old roof and fitting a new one, it became apparent that I don't function too well in
-5degrees. Especially with a strong Northerly blowing in straight off the North Sea. The two guys who were with me didn't seem to notice the
cold. Or the six inches of snow on the scaffold.
I politely enquired as to why they were warm and I was frozen. Thermal undies!!
They were both wearing proper thermals.
I remembered the brand new sets that were issued to my during a brief stay in the Falklands and a trip to the attic found them.
The difference was amazing! Instead of three teeshirts, a jumper, fleece and top coat, jeans and boilersuit, I was down to my thermals, fleece and
jeans.
The local discount shop had them on offer for a couple of quid which is where all the local builders are buying them.
HTH!!